It is actually kind of wild when you think about it. Nicholas Hoult has been famous since he was about twelve years old—the kid in the bowl cut from About a Boy who somehow grew up to be a six-foot-three powerhouse. But for the better part of a decade, his personal life was essentially a black box. No "at home" magazine spreads. No PDA-heavy Instagram debuts. Just... silence.
Then came late 2024. Suddenly, the man who treats his private life like a state secret starts dropping the "W" word in interviews. Nicholas Hoult and girlfriend Bryana Holly aren't just a low-key duo anymore; they’re officially a married unit with a family life that’s surprisingly relatable, despite the Hollywood backdrop.
The Secret Marriage (That Wasn't Really a Secret)
Honestly, we should have seen it coming. For years, fans spotted gold bands on certain fingers during paparazzi strolls, but Hoult never bit. The confirmation didn't happen via a publicist's staged statement or a glossy Vogue wedding feature. It happened because of fingernails.
While promoting the gothic horror flick Nosferatu in November 2024, Hoult told E! News that the movie was so tense, he left the theater with his "wife's" nails imprinted on his hand. He didn't even blink. He just said it. When People magazine followed up a few days later to ask if he’d actually tied the knot, his response was basically the verbal equivalent of a shrug: "I feel like it's fairly clear from my comments."
They’ve been together since 2017. That is a lifetime in "actor years." While most celebrity couples burn out after three press tours and a vacation in Ibiza, these two just... existed. They lived. They had kids. They stayed out of the tabloids.
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Who is Bryana Holly, Anyway?
If you aren't deep into the modeling world, you might just know her as "the girl on Nicholas Hoult's arm," but she’s had a massive career long before the "wife" title.
- She’s a California girl through and through. Born in July 1993, she’s a mix of Hawaiian, Japanese, Russian, and Slovenian heritage.
- Modeling Veteran: She’s signed with powerhouses like Wilhelmina and has over a million followers on Instagram, though she uses it mostly for work and the occasional "life lately" blurry snap.
- The Ex-Files: Before meeting Nick, she was briefly linked to Brody Jenner and Ashton Irwin from 5 Seconds of Summer.
What’s cool is that she seems to share Hoult’s "normalcy" obsession. They aren't hanging out at the Ivy every night. You’re more likely to find them at a Lakers game or, more recently, an Atlanta Hawks game with their oldest son.
Parenting in the Dark
Parenting is hard enough without a lens in your face. Nicholas Hoult and girlfriend (now wife) Bryana have two kids, but you won't find their faces on a "Celebrity Kids" TikTok compilation.
Their first son, Joaquin, was born in April 2018. We didn't even get a public "first look" at him until March 2024, when Hoult took the six-year-old to a basketball game. Joaquin was wearing a Hawks jersey and holding a stuffed toy. It was human. It wasn't a "brand moment."
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The second child is even more of a mystery. Born late in 2022, the couple hasn't even publicly shared the name or sex. Hoult once told the Evening Standard that fatherhood makes you "value time differently." He basically admitted he talks faster in interviews now just so he can get home to them sooner.
Why the Privacy Matters
In 2026, where every "influencer" child has a managed digital footprint before they can walk, the Hoult-Holly approach is refreshing. Hoult grew up as a child star. He knows the "vampire" nature of fame—how it can drain you if you don't keep something for yourself.
By keeping the "Nicholas Hoult and girlfriend" narrative out of the headlines for seven years, they built a foundation that wasn't dependent on public approval. They didn't even do a red carpet together until the Nosferatu premiere in December 2024. Think about that. Seven years of dating, two kids, and a marriage before they finally stood in front of a step-and-repeat together.
What We Can Learn From Them
Most people get it wrong. They think being a "celebrity couple" requires a certain level of performance. You have to post the "happy birthday" tributes. You have to acknowledge the rumors.
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Hoult and Holly proved you don't.
They moved to a quieter life—reportedly spending time in the Orange County area of California to be near her family—and focused on the "boring" stuff. Hoult likes to cook. Apparently, Joaquin is his toughest critic, often telling him his food "isn't very good." That’s the reality. No matter if you’re Lex Luthor in the new Superman movie or a model for major brands, if your kid hates your pasta, you're just a regular dad.
How to Follow Their Lead
If you're looking for the "secret sauce" to their relationship longevity, it’s pretty simple:
- Define your boundaries early. They decided from day one that the kids were off-limits.
- Separate the "Work" from the "Life." Hoult does the press tours, Bryana does the shoots, and then they go home.
- Don't feel the need to "correct" the internet. They let the "are they married?" rumors swirl for years without saying a word.
They aren't "hiding" anymore, but they aren't selling out either. Seeing them at the Red Sea International Film Festival or courtside in Atlanta, they look like people who actually like each other. In Hollywood, that’s the rarest thing of all.
If you want to keep up with them, your best bet isn't the gossip rags. Follow Bryana Holly on Instagram for the occasional, very curated glimpse of their "dream" life, or catch Nicholas on his next press cycle—he might just mention his "wife" again if he's feeling chatty.